THE DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5688, 23 June 1879, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(per press agency.) Dunedin, Saturday. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, Mr. McNeil expressed disappointment at the small muster of members, and said that the Chamber, unlike other similar bodies in the colony, seemed to be half dead and alive. There was a weakness, though ho could not account for it. He suggested that the present meeting should be adjourned until there was a larger representation of the mercantile community, when the matter of effecting an improvement would be considered.

The Chairman said : X quite agree with you. I think it disgraceful to the "merchants of Dunedin the apathy they show in all matters connected with the Chamber of Commerce. I have been very much disgusted during the last twelve mouths with-the apathy shown by the members in attending the meetings. I think you have only to look at other places iu the colony, such as Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland, to find that the members of the Chamber of Commerce have always taken part in matters connected with the Chambers in their cities, but here it is just the reverse. The whole of the business is left in the bands of a committee. If anything goes wrong, tho gentlemen who Jo not attend these meetings do nothing but chide the committee instead of assisting them iu anything for the welfare of the place. I am very ranch pleased that Mr. McNeil has brought the matter up, and am sorry that our Chamber is not in a position to explain matters. I think it would be as well to adjourn the meeting for a fortnight, and to let it be understood that we want a full meeting. If merchants don’t attend, then I for one will retire. The Hon. Mr. Reynolds referred to the apathy shown by the members, and said that the only remedy was for the merchants to bo more liberal in their contributions, and to appoint a secretary who could devote his whole time to the business of the Chamber. Mr. Gillies thought that, while Dunedin merchants were divided amongst themselves the efforts of the Chamber would not be attended with success. Eventually it was decided to adjourn the meeting until Friday next, at 3 p.m.